A nice layer of creamy foam on top of a pint of beer is a key part of what makes a beer look like a beer. It could be argued whether it makes any difference to the flavour and taste of your pint. I think it definitely has a psychological, aesthetic and texture (mouthfeel) benefits […]
I don’t want to ruffle any feathers but I just don’t get it. It seems primarily an American tradition but it is definitely something that’s creeping over to the UK, people seem to go crazy for pumpkin beers. I’ll admit, I have brewed one myself a few years ago and in all honesty, I […]
The evenings here in Cornwall are starting to draw in. It’s always around this time of year that the mind turns to darker beers, something less refreshing like a pale ale and more comforting and warming. Seasonality plays an important role in beer making, I know from brewing commercially that the lighter ABV session beers […]
Life can be hectic and when you have work or family commitments you often put off things like brewing because you know it’s going to take up a large part of your free time. Whilst it’s true that brewing good beer takes time and patience if you can plan and shave off time here and […]
When I started brewing I guess I was a stickler for detail. I would read recipes and stick too them rigidly making sure I used all the same malt and hops as the recipe stated. I did this for a year or so and never came up with my own beer, I brewed a lot […]
Dry malt extract (DME) is something you should always have in your supplies regardless of whether you brew all grain or not. Obviously extract and partial mash brewers will be making their beers from malt extract of some sort, whether that be dry or liquid. You may be an extract brewer for example that prefers […]
The Cascade and Citra combo, how did it turn out? This beer has been in the bottle for about 3-4 weeks now so it’s time to evaluate and critique it. As with most of my beers I check out the first few bottles after two weeks and then when I’m happy it’s conditioned hand a […]
Many home brewers start with beer kits, then a proportion of those who enjoy the process of making beer enough usually progress to extract and then a portion of those will progress further to all grain. Some brewers though are content enough with beer kits or extract brewing but I think they may be missing […]
Hop heavy beers are not always my favourite to drink. Don’t get me wrong I love a nicely hopped, aromatic, juicy IPA, but not as my go to beer. Maybe it’s the Englishman in me but over an evening I like having a few beers. Big hoppy beers usually overwhelm me and are best left […]
When I first started brewing I made my fair share of funny tasting beers, nothing that was completely undrinkable, just beers that weren’t quite right for one reason or another. You may of even heard people refer to a home brew flavour, this is often just used in a way to say there is something […]